Episodes

The concluding part to my conversation with Gervase Mangwana - This episode we talk through air tightness testing and what the results mean. Should we be using permeability, or air changes per hour? Some of this conversation centres around the results from my air tightness testing in the tiny house and how certain test reporting favours larger homes. Just to warn you, this episode features live maths.... and live measuring too! Become a Patreon supporter in August 2022 and be in with a chance o...

Part two of my conversation with Gervase Mangwana - This episode follows on from BS083 and we talk carbon payback, and cost payback of an EnerPHit retrofit. Is going all the way to EnerPHit always the right thing to do? Then we talk about the importance of ventilation in a home and how excess carbon dioxide can effect us. Become a Patreon supporter in August 2022 and be in with a chance of winning a wonderful packbasket! (Also really help the podcast out!) https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustain...

This is the first of 3 episodes with Gervase Wangwana - a Retrofit specialist, Airtightness tester and reformed DJ. Part 2 will look more into ventilation and part 3 is all about air tightness. Become a Patreon supporter in August 2022 and be in with a chance of winning a wonderful packbasket! (Also really help the podcast out!) https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability Episode Links: Green Building Store case study of Reform Cottage - https://www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk/reform-cottage-en...

Chris Magwood is once again our guest on the podcast. Today we are discussing calculating materials carbon emissions, which might also be called up front carbon or embodied carbon. Chris and his team at buildersforclimateaction.org have created the BEAM calculator to do just that. We discuss the calculator, what it can do and what its limitations are. Whether it's ok to offset biogenic carbon against higher carbon emitting materials? Some excellent reports into current house construction in Cana...

Today I'm joined by Clare Nash who describes herself as an "Architect creating dream eco-homes, barn conversions plus environmental and community focused housing schemes" Today we are talking about how to find a work/life balance. Design Your Life Book - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Clare-Nash/Design-your-life--An-architects-guide-to-achieving-a-worklife-balance/26380240 Bursting with tips, ideas and how-tos on all aspects of designing a working life that suits you and your business, this book...

The second Episode with Architect Clare Nash this time discussing the findings from her book Contemporary Vernacular Design How British Housing Can Rediscover Its Soul The book presents 25 inspirational housing schemes providing hope for the future of home building in Britain. Highlighting the need for the UK to reclaim its sense of local identity through the vernacular, these case studies are not just examples of good design but demonstrate the achievable nature of contemporary vernacular in to...

This week on the podcast we have Jane Anderson, who is an expert in Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), EPD and Embodied Carbon for construction. We discuss what LCA's and EPD's are and how they are created, sequestering carbon in construction and greenwashing! Links from this episode: Jane's Website - https://constructionlca.co.uk/ Jane's Twitter - https://twitter.com/constructionlca One Click LCA - https://www.oneclicklca.com/ PHRibbon (LCA) - https://www.phribbon.co.uk/ Building Sustainability Patreon...

Two conversations recorded at Futurebuild 2022. Vince House talks about demand controlled ventilation and Matt Stevenson about homegrown timber solutions. Podcast Links Updated! Comparison of MVHR Vs Demand controlled ventilation https://www.aivc.org/sites/default/files/D2_S6B-02.pdf https://www.aereco.co.uk/ https://ukcmb.org/2019/10/27/bsi-white-paper-moisture-in-buildings/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-stevenson-62006841/ https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/ The Mick & Pat Show Join us for infor...

Conversations recorded at Futurebuild 2022 with Brian Murphy of the Green Building Calculator and Rowland Keable of EBUKI talking about the Cobbauge project. Episode links Green Building Calculator - https://greenbuildingencyclopaedia.uk/ https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/ EBUKI - http://www.ebuki.co/ Cobbauge - http://www.cobbauge.eu/en/ Sheltercraft - https://sheltercraft.co.uk The Mick & Pat Show Join us for informal conversations surrounding beer, film, politics and philosophy. Listen on: Apple ...

This episode we are talking to the brand new editorial team for the Last Straw Journal - Alex Henderson, Gavin Fraser, Kenny Fallon & Zoe Gardner! The Last Straw Journal THE ALTERNATIVE JOURNAL OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION - for dirtbags and dreamers - since 1992 The Last Straw is a platform to share and explore ideas of a better world through the lens of building methods and materials. In the face of climate crisis and increasing alienation from each other and the Earth, we believe another world ...

Building Physicist and certified PassivHaus designer Es Tresidder is back to discuss his EnerPHit retrofit project on his family home. We discuss what he's doing and what he has learned from pulling apart his home to do the work. Episode Links Es' website: http://www.highlandpassive.com/ Design of Es’ retrofit and Es’ employer - http://www.johngilbert.co.uk/ Building Sustainability Community Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/340122253926357 Building Sustainability Patreon (suppor...

It's a commonly held belief that adding mass into your building will make it more energy efficient. In this episode I talk with Es Tresidder about whether this is true and when extra mass in your building can be beneficial. About Es - I am a certified Passivhaus and AECB Carbonlite Retrofit designer. I have over ten years of experience in low-energy buildings in both consultancy and academic roles. I also teach on two Masters courses ( Developing Low Carbon Communities and Sustainable Energy So...

Virginia is a qualified architect, project manager, BREEAM AP and ISO14001 Lead Auditor, with a lifelong passion for sustainability. She is the author of SustainABLE: How to Find Success as a Sustainability Professional in a Rapidly Changing World, a practical guide for those that have a passion for sustainability but cannot make an impact. Virginia is also an Assistant Lecturer in Sustainability and Environmental Management at Coventry University. During her previous long career at BRE, Virgini...

Today we talk about mindful spaces and biophilic meditation with Sophie Lacey. Sophie has been running her own freelance copywriting and content writing business for nearly 15 years, working with a variety of lifestyle brands and specialists in placemaking, the built environment, interior design and retail. Her half-Swedish heritage inspires a love of simple design and an affinity with nature and organic materials, colours and textures, while her diploma in meditation teaching gives her a unique...

Sigi Koko is the principal designer of Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help her clients manifest their dreams of living in a natural, healthy home. She works exclusively on projects that are natural, energy-efficient buildings, on the forefront of sustainable design. Every project functions in synchronicity with its environment, relating to seasonal cycles of sun, wind, and rain to provide natural heating and cooling primarily from passive (free!) sources. Her clients enj...

Sigi Koko is the principal designer of Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help her clients manifest their dreams of living in a natural, healthy home. She works exclusively on projects that are natural, energy-efficient buildings, on the forefront of sustainable design. Every project functions in synchronicity with its environment, relating to seasonal cycles of sun, wind, and rain to provide natural heating and cooling primarily from passive (free!) sources. Her clients enj...

Well, there's a title I didn't expect to write when I started this podcast! Today I'm talking to Danny and Zach from Terran Robotics about their work training AI drones to build cob homes. Now this might sound a little crazy when you are first introduced to the idea, but the logic behind it is solid. To make affordable homes, build with the cheapest material and reduce the labor costs. Have a listen to the work that Danny and Zach are up to today and let me know what you think! Episode Links Te...

With energy prices soaring, everybody has good reason to be thinking about adding more insulation to their home. In this episode we are discussing the best types of insulation for your home and the pros and cons of some different types. A recommended listen for anyone looking to increase the energy efficiency of their home. Ben Kerslake is back! Ben last joined us way back in Episode 45 to discuss solving damp problems with lime plaster. Check out insulation month at: https://www.carringtonlime...

Part 2! (Check out episode 67 for Part 1) With energy prices soaring, everybody has good reason to be thinking about adding more insulation to their home. In this episode we are discussing the best types of insulation for your home and the pros and cons of some different types. A recommended listen for anyone looking to increase the energy efficiency of their home. Ben Kerslake is back! Ben last joined us way back in Episode 45 to discuss solving damp problems with lime plaster. Check out insul...

We discuss the report created by Material Cultures and ARUP which examines the potential positive impacts of a bioregional construction economy, from improvements in biodiversity to an increase in construction jobs and security; building a case for redistributing the values of the construction industry towards a cleaner, sustainable methodology for growth that is beneficial to all. It can be viewed here . Until recently, little attention has been paid to the carbon impacts of the construction an...

Rachel Fowler is an interior designer who focusses on creating healthy and sustainable spaces. We discuss how to design healthy, what to watch out for and get into the healthy products and finishes you could be choosing in your own project. Her company website - https://rachelfowlerinteriors.com/ Her book - My happy place - https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/My-Happy-Place-by-Rachel-Fowler-author/9781788602983 Episode Links Enki Magazine - https://enkimagazine.com Declare - https://declar...

John Butler is back for another episode, this time focussing on 'natural' materials and their whole life carbon. Topics include: What natural means, is it a useful descriptor? The results from a new UK Straw Bale Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Is there enough straw to build a reasonable quantity of homes with? Why is John called the woodlouse? This episode has associated graphs to peruse on the BSP website: https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/what-is-the-environmental-impact-o...

In this episode John explains the principles and requirements of Passivhaus construction. He dispels some common myths and goes into some of the nuances of how its achieved. Does living in a passivhaus mean living in a bubble? Can I open the windows in a passivhaus? How airtight should it be? What are the benefits of MVHR? John's work can be found here: https://www.sustainablebuildconsultancy.com/ Links from this episode: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblique_Strategies https://passivehouse-inte...

The construction industry needs a shake up. Not just in the materials that are used but in the cultures within the industry. We talk about George and Summer's take on how we should be constructing and discuss their design for the Waste Age exhibition in London. My Movember Space - https://uk.movember.com/mospace/14634309 Mental health support links: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/getting-help https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/mental-health-and-stigma/help-and-support Find local support charitie...